Narrative:

While on descent for a visual approach to new york's jfk airport we were at 11000 ft. The controller called 'air carrier X abc, descend 2000 ft.' however, it sounded like 'adbc.' I acknowledged the call. The captain requested I clarify the clearance. I asked to confirm 2000 ft for abc. The controller then said yes, abc. It again sounded like adbc. We started a 1000 FPM descent and were unable to ask for additional confirmation due to traffic on the frequency. Upon passing through 10000 ft, another controller came on the frequency and said 'abc maintain 10000 ft.' he also stopped another aircraft's climb a few thousand ft below us. At that point we were at 9800 ft. We returned and maintained 10000 ft. After a turn we were told to descend first to 9000 ft then 8000 ft and eventually to 2000 ft. We were vectored to a visual approach into jfk. There was no conflict. I feel that I should have asked for further clarification. I was confident the call was for our flight, but I will not hesitate if there is any doubt of the call to ask for positive confirmation.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN APPARENT CASE OF SIMILAR CALL SIGNS AND POSSIBLE REGIONAL ACCENT PROBS CAUSE A POSSIBLE EXCURSION FROM ASSIGNED ALT DURING ARR TO JFK, NY.

Narrative: WHILE ON DSCNT FOR A VISUAL APCH TO NEW YORK'S JFK ARPT WE WERE AT 11000 FT. THE CTLR CALLED 'ACR X ABC, DSND 2000 FT.' HOWEVER, IT SOUNDED LIKE 'ADBC.' I ACKNOWLEDGED THE CALL. THE CAPT REQUESTED I CLARIFY THE CLRNC. I ASKED TO CONFIRM 2000 FT FOR ABC. THE CTLR THEN SAID YES, ABC. IT AGAIN SOUNDED LIKE ADBC. WE STARTED A 1000 FPM DSCNT AND WERE UNABLE TO ASK FOR ADDITIONAL CONFIRMATION DUE TO TFC ON THE FREQ. UPON PASSING THROUGH 10000 FT, ANOTHER CTLR CAME ON THE FREQ AND SAID 'ABC MAINTAIN 10000 FT.' HE ALSO STOPPED ANOTHER ACFT'S CLB A FEW THOUSAND FT BELOW US. AT THAT POINT WE WERE AT 9800 FT. WE RETURNED AND MAINTAINED 10000 FT. AFTER A TURN WE WERE TOLD TO DSND FIRST TO 9000 FT THEN 8000 FT AND EVENTUALLY TO 2000 FT. WE WERE VECTORED TO A VISUAL APCH INTO JFK. THERE WAS NO CONFLICT. I FEEL THAT I SHOULD HAVE ASKED FOR FURTHER CLARIFICATION. I WAS CONFIDENT THE CALL WAS FOR OUR FLT, BUT I WILL NOT HESITATE IF THERE IS ANY DOUBT OF THE CALL TO ASK FOR POSITIVE CONFIRMATION.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.